Oh boy, here we go again the Garden Contest, 2025, for my neighborhood. I enter it every year hoping to win. But this year, I have a little insight to what makes a winning entry. Let’s make it perfectly clear–I HAVE NEVER WON and could never figure out what was wrong with my garden.
I’m very competitive, but the announcement in the local flyer about the garden contest said if you won within the last two years, then do not enter again. Let others win, right? OK, I’m ready to win and think portions of my garden are “photo ready”.
I’ve taken thousands of photos for both my blog and for the two nonprofit online news sites I photograph/edit. So, it is not a problem with my photographs. I take all my photos with a camera phone, I edit every photo, and label and date them. Actually, I love photos that tell a story and think I’m pretty good at it. However, please note I am not a professional photographer nor do a own a professional camera.
Secondly, it is also not my garden. I have almost a third acre and have lots of plants, trees, and flowers plus interesting things to photograph.
What Makes a Winning Garden?
Ok, after many years of not winning, I’m approaching this garden contest in a different way.
Last year was the first year I did research on the project. I went back to see what type of gardens were winning the contest. They had the winning garden photos online. I was a little surprised because the judges do not want individual shots of beautiful plants or flowers. They actually want to see the “whole” garden and how it fits in with your home.
The judges want to see architectural elements such as fences, walls, flower beds at the front of the house, etc.
Ending Notes on the Garden Contest
At one time the association would give the winners a gift card to a local gardening center, but I don’t even know if that is the case any more.
This year I want to walk away with bragging rights of being a winner. I’m changing things up a bit.
So, Readers, wish me luck as I once again enter this contest. I have until August 31st to send in my entry. Lots of time to get some perfect photos and think about my entry submission.
Notes on the Photographed Leyland Cypress Trees
I planted these Leyland Cypress trees in my garden for privacy years ago. They were tiny and easy to plant. I, also, never had to water them. Leyland Cypress trees are evergreen and fast growing. They can grow to 49 feet high in 16 years.
There are previous lawsuits regarding Leylands growing too large and producing shadows on neighbor’s gardens.
The trees are sterile and are grown from cuttings. The article I read the tree’s life span could be as little as ten years. They have a shallow root system and tend topple over easily.
As you can see the lower branches on my Leyland Cypress trees became a bit ragged and grew over the sidewalk, so they had to be cut. But I’m wondering, could this be a winning photo?
Getting my Garden into Bloom from Farmhouse Magic Blog.